Mental Health Clinician, MH

at  RWJBarnabas Health

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Mental Health Clinician will respond to crisis calls primarily from screening centers, conduct initial assessments, develop treatment plan for assigned caseload, provide ongoing training and consultation and assist provider agencies and families with managing behavioral and psychiatric issues.
The MA Clinician participates in on-call rotation and maintain a caseload for ongoing stabilization and clinical case management, and provides interventions and strategies for caregivers and patients for the purposes of crisis stabilization and to maintain patients at baseline in their community placement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Special Education or other mental health related field
• Four years or more experience of working in mental health field and with individuals with developmental disabilities

SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS:

• Shift working, 9:00am-5:00pm each day
• FT

• The MA Clinician provides an immediate response to all requests for service from the Intake Clinician through the 888 intake line. Initial calls will come primarily from the screening centers The MA Clinician consults with the intake clinician to gather initial information on the reason for presentation at the screening center
• Conducts an Initial Assessment face to face according the Crisis Response Protocol. This shall include the presenting problem, background information relating to the problem, behavioral issues, environmental factors, level of functioning, supports, mental status, clinical impression, crisis assessment protocol and crisis stabilization plan
• Provides consultation to Screening Centers and makes recommendations regarding hospitalization and disposition back to the community. Facilitates access to Trinitas MI/DD Psychiatric Inpatient Unit. Clinicians will work with clients at Screening Center to assist in maintaining behaviors, educating families, gathering collateral information and developing discharge plans
• Clinicians may be assigned to specific screening centers. Clinicians may spend part of the week at the screening centers and be immediately be available for consultations, assessments & interventions on clients that present to the screening centers. This will develop collaboration and teamwork at the screening centers. This will foster a consistent treatment approach to clients
• Follows up on clients that were discharged from screening centers. Maintains a caseload of clients. Follow up is done in the client s community settings. Provides ongoing consultation, assist in developing behavioral strategies, treatment planning and crisis support. The Clinician will maintain contact with the individual, provider agency, family and others involved with the person and work collaboratively with them in managing the maladaptive behaviors and stabilizing the situation. Clinicians will spend part of the week in specific community settings performing on-site coaching. This includes off hours weekends and evenings
• Conducts training for agencies regarding a particular individual s behavior and mental health issues
• Participates in inter-agency case conferences, interdisciplinary team meetings and the Learning Collaborative Project Echo
• Provides clinical consultation to other service providers such as STCF units, state hospitals and DDD and Mental Health provider agencies
• Provides shared on-call coverage on a rotating basis 24 hours/7days a week to respond to crises. Responds to off hours crisis calls by phone and face to face at the direction of the supervisor and according to the Crisis Response Protocol
• Documentation of the assessment, interventions and contacts are completed on the CARE-DD electronic medical record system. Documentation is completed within 2-3 hours of the interventions or at the discretion of the supervisor
• Clinician will use electronic communication tools e.g tablets, IPhones in recording information and communicating with supervisors and other team members. Hospital policies on these devices will be followed
• Assists in obtaining services and resources for individuals. This includes mental health and DDD services
• Statistical reporting information will be completed on a weekly basis for the activity of that week
• Participates in staff meetings and supervision as scheduled
• Collaborates with other programs, community agencies and families
• Maintains up to date and complete records of client information
• Makes referrals to network agencies for continuation of services. The Clinician will ensure that the individual has a plan and is linked to an appropriate service when case is terminated.